Plastic is Good for wargamers

 Slightly off my normal SYW ramblings I thought I should publish photographs of my latest WW2 Italian reinforcements, ie German panzer 3's, courtesy of the Russian plastic figure company Zvesda.
 These 15mm beauties retail at £2.75 each and snap together beautifully.
 The thing I liked about them apart from their cheapness, was the track system, which is in one piece and well detailed.
 Overall the model is well worth a punt,and fits well with their expensive FoW collegues.
 Wargamers have differing views about palstic,but the way I look at it is that in a time of recession,plastic is a great way to get gaming [unless its GW] for a moderate amount of money. Zvesda are bringing out panzer 4's next. The range at the moment is only small,but all are well crafted. 

The show goes on [just]

Looking at the amount of time I have in a day,its no wonder that my painting has slowed somewhat, between retiring,getting a new job, and sorting out things at my new build time has been tight.
 I think its the only thing wargamers can agree on is the lack of time we have to do all things associated with wargaming.

Anyway I managed to paint up my latest addition to my make belive force, in the personality of this lady who will command the Ducal lancers [ job sharing and condensed hours permitting]
 I would like to think that in the mid eighteenth century such considerations were de regeurre.

I also managed to finish my Hanoverian combined grenadiers,who were actually a pleasure to paint,albeit slowly. Steve Hezzlewood did a good job of designing this figure,they do look the part.
I was slightly sidetracked again by buying the latest Minden Austrian and Prussian command groups,which are really beautiful sculpts in their own right.
 I am looking forward to painting them,but perhaps not as Prussians.
 They may not be as cheap as RSM figures,but they do have their own charm.
 Anyway the next unit is the Hanoverian horse guards,which will complement the Horse grenadiers.
 Tonight I am around John's for a game,where no doubt I will be given a bit of a thrashing.

05.09.2007

I have been very,very busy the last couple of weeks,what with attempting to sort out the trades for my new house,work in general with people merrily being horrible to each other, my up and coming retirement and the arrangements for my new job.
 Anyway I was checking my wargames book [everyone needs one] and saw that 5th September 2007 was the date that I started building my Seven Years War armies.
 God its been slow, certainly slower than I anticipated, mind I did have the deviation of a Flames of War Italian army followed by a small Eighth army interlude. Still I am back on track, well at least I'm painting again.
 I seem to remember that in September 2007 I had hit what could only be described as Wargamers Block, that is when you ask the question, 'what are you doing? why are you painting toy soldiers?  and the answer comes back, I dont know!
 I think in the last 40 years or so its happened three times.
 Luckily I recovered my senses and I realise what would I do without my soldiers, the answer is my life would  have a big massive void in it, and what could fill that void, football, golf, drinking, music, Cheryl Cole, possibly but I dont think so some how. [ her loss].
 Anyway to counter the block, I took up painting 30mm figures, in colourful uniforms, what can you say.
 What a lovely feeling to lose yourself in the uniform of the Royal Escosse
 or the English Gendarmes. I defy anyone not to be impressed by the skill of the wargames designers who produce the toys we collect.
 Going back to mention of my new home, the roof is now on , which allowed me to peruse my potential wargames room.  The table I can comfortably have will be an Old School wargaming 12' by 6', god do I feel a very lucky and privilaged person, still I have to build the table yet. Mind there are a few walls and toilets to put in first.
 Anyway, any gamer who hits that 'Wargmers Block' feeling, just ask themselves, what could fill that void if there were no more toy soldiers to paint and push around a table.

 All answers on a postcard please.